...but it does remind you of excellent principles of success in any field, whether an engineer, scientist or any other profession.

Personally, I am not a rocket scientist; I am a systems engineer and study low-level communication protocols in networks as well as database design theory. At the same time, I teach success skills to technology professionals and have been recommending this book. I do not recommend it as a valuable resource for learning to think better (Gelb, Chaffe, Thorpe, Wind and Jones have done this well), but as a self-development book that provides reminders of important foundational principles like looking at the big picture, questioning your assumptions and reviewing your past successes and failures for lessons learned.

There's nothing deep or technical in this book. It is all about the basics and, sadly, we forget those quite often.

There are thousands of "How to" and "improve your thinking" books out there, but only this one allows you to indulge your inner space cadet at the same time. I'm old enough to remember when us kids were as excited by actual space travel as a later generation was by "Star Wars." Jim Longuski is too and he was an actual rocket scientist, and currently teaches the rocket scientists of the future.

There are no earth shattering secrets here but lots of down-to-earth common sense delivered with charm, brevity and good humour. Longuski's writing style is light and breezy and this good reading book is one you can move through like a rocket. The illustrating cartoons are fun and relevant as are Longuski's chapter heading quotations. The book is tight and well constructed, elegant even, indeed it seems to encapsulate the very rocket science principles the author wants to see take off.

There are seven stages in Longuski's count down. These principles would seem to be relevant nearly everywhere, and especially in any activity remotely technical. There must be a "Dream". But you need to "Judge" your brainstorms toughly but carefully. You need to "Ask" the right questions, lots of them. "Check" your findings and your thinking. "Simplify" your plans, "Optimize" your solutions...and "Do."

Longuski's text is peppered with examples from the space programme of where these principles have been applied and lift off achieved. These out-of-this-world examples make the book like tang to your inner astronaut. But there is down side to the story too. Longuski is critical of NASA's well publicised recent failures and blames the failures on losing track from the seven principles expounded herein. Longuski is deeply concerned to get NASA back on track. So the ideas have organisational as well as personal relevance.

Don't expect this self help book, or any self help book, to change your life. But it will help give you a different perspective from a higher orbit. Recommended for all space cadets, earthbound or otherwise.

As a "rocket scientist" (or rather, "rocket engineer") myself, I find Longuski's basic pointers about how to think like a rocket scientist very accurate. In fact, I'd give this book 5 stars if it was only full of these pointers.



However, I am extremely disappointed by Longuski's use of this book to embark on a personal vendetta against the Space Shuttle. While I agree with some of Longuski's points, they are frequently made with sarcastic language and by presenting incomplete information (certainly not the objectivity one would expect from a rocket scientist).



The book's subtitle should be "or How I Learned To Continue Worrying and Hate the Space Shuttle." At least if that were the subtitle, Longuski's Shuttle discussions would be a little more appropriate.

As a "rocket scientist" (or rather, "rocket engineer") myself, I find Longuski's basic pointers about how to think like a rocket scientist very accurate. In fact, I'd give this book 5 stars if it was only full of these pointers.

However, I am extremely disappointed by Longuski's use of this book to embark on a personal vendetta against the Space Shuttle. While I agree with some of Longuski's points, they are frequently made with sarcastic language and by presenting incomplete information (certainly not the objectivity one would expect from a rocket scientist).

The book's subtitle should be "or How I Learned To Continue Worrying and Hate the Space Shuttle." At least if that were the subtitle, Longuski's Shuttle discussions would be a little more appropriate.

This book isn't about how to make a thruster fire, or how to launch a spaceship into interstellar space. It's about the process of making the orderly, logical decisions that could get you there.

Most of us don't make decisions about million-dollar rocket designs. But anybody can make a bad decision based on faulty logic, incomplete data or simple boneheadedness. Wrong thinking can cause aspects of our careers and personal lives to veer dangerously off-course, like a fueled-up rocket with its thrusters firing sideways.

Dr. Longuski's book is full of common-sense, high-functioning rationality. It gets my enthusiastic endorsement!

If you are a rocket scientist (and I sort of am), you will find this book shallow and disappointing. In fact, if you are of a scientific turn of mind in any way, this book will contribute nothing to your approach to problems. And, even if you are not scientificaslly oriented, I fail to see how this book will help you. I know it is not expensive, which is why I was thinking of getting this book for my 16 year old grandson, but I never passed it along because he would just laugh at the trivial and banal examples. It isn't even amusing.

If you have ever wondered about the universe, been entertained by science-fiction or faced a challenging problem, then this book is for you. I found it to be both fun and informative. Most importantly, it made me smile!

This is fun reading, and since I am a rocket scientist, I found the advice to be "right-on."

This is fun reading, and since I am a rocket scientist, I found the advice to be "right-on."

I like this book--a lot. As a rocket scientist myself, I have often experienced a great deal of admiration from other people. It is very flattering, but I do get somewhat embaressed by it. Unfortunately so far, I just have not been able to put into words why I am a little uncomfortable having to carry the burden of being a rocket scientist. Until now. If you look at the core of rocket science, it is really all common sense. Admittedly, a four year degree during which you study all the math and science behind it all will help you get a job, but really those are just more formal tools you need to support your conclusions. The thinking process behind it, is not all that spectacular. In fact, everyone can solve problems like a rocket scientist. And after reading this book and thinking about it, you may realize that you are already using many of the suggestions presented by James Longuski. But please, continue flattering me. Even though the secret is out now, it still feels good!

I like this book--a lot. As a rocket scientist myself, I have often experienced a great deal of admiration from other people. It is very flattering, but I do get somewhat embaressed by it. Unfortunately so far, I just have not been able to put into words why I am a little uncomfortable having to carry the burden of being a rocket scientist. Until now. If you look at the core of rocket science, it is really all common sense. Admittedly, a four year degree during which you study all the math and science behind it all will help you get a job, but really those are just more formal tools you need to support your conclusions. The thinking process behind it, is not all that spectacular. In fact, everyone can solve problems like a rocket scientist. And after reading this book and thinking about it, you may realize that you are already using many of the suggestions presented by James Longuski. But please, continue flattering me. Even though the secret is out now, it still feels good!

The great thing about this book is how easy it is to get caught up in the story-telling and anecdotes. The author does a wonderful job of using famous quotes, parables, and even scenes from movies to prove his points. The book challenges you to use your imagination to its fullest, and above all else, use common sense when solving complicated problems. Also, the illustrations are cool. They remind me of the Spaceman Spiff cartoons from the "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip.

An enlightening book? No.
An excellent book? No.
An indispensable book? No.

This book tells you general thinking patterns of a rocket scientist. Nothing more.

Humorous, heartwarming and humble, this book is like a delightful chat with a good friend from beginning to end.

Anyone who feels harried and stressed, or overwhelmed by workplace vexation will find this book a perfect way to relax and regain perspective in addition to learning something new and interesting.

The simple and sparkling writing style is a perfect compliment to the book's advice on being imaginative, playful, and active. The adorably whimsical illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to and reinforcement of this style.

Revist your childhood passion for astronauts and learn about how to succeed in your adult endeavors--read this book today...and don't forget to buy one for a friend.

Longuski's latest book is easy to read and at the same time informative. The book is divided into 7 parts, each one deals with a particular "secret" to thinking like a Rocket Scientist.

Why would you want to care about how Rocket Scientist think? The question really should be "why not?" If they can put people on the moon and bring them back safely, what can they NOT do? Knowing how to systematically bring seemingly impossible (and some might say crazy) ideas into reality is a tool no one should live without, regardless of your profession.

The book is full of humor, anecdotes, and memorable quotations from just about every source imaginable (books, TV shows, movies, etc). Want to know the secret to winning "20 Questions?" The book will teach you. Want to know how "20 Questions" relates to Rocket Science? Read it and find out. How about how to modify the game "Risk" to include nukes?

A wonderful feature of the book is that even though it is meant to be read as a whole, you can start reading just about anywhere in the book. Each chapter is very short, only about 2-3 pages. Yet each chapter contains something interesting and informative. It's treat to see how Longuski ties together all these loose ideas together into a unified theme--how to think like a Rocket Scientist.